Lock for cabinets



J. H. PAGE LOCK FOR CABINETS April 3, 1953 Y Filed Sept. 20, 1945 n m N m f /n/ ff/ ,/f /1/ f/ pri 39 1951 J, H. PAGE 2,547,485

LOCK FOR CABINETS Filed Sept. 20, 1945 3 SheeLs-Sheet 2 7l/Hw@ l R @PMM M67 WVM A Tra/@Ney s 3 Shees-Sheet 5 J. H. PAGE LOCK FOR CABINETS C, WM www 67% pril 3, 1951 Filed sept. 2o, 1945 Arrows/Vf Eig' 6 atented pr. *3, llt-9511 emiro stares pri-,ENT carries aarme .1,199.15 .F..OR CABWFTS John yH. Page, .,Musliegen, Mich., assignonto vThe .Shaw-Walker* Company, Muskegon, Mich.; a

@puede @aber 20 leggerla. @23,546 @claims ,tering-59) .This invention .relates .to improvements vin locking means for fire-resisting cabinets or safes .of .the kind having a metal'shel'l with an inner :liner of molded insulation.

.One of .the maior difficulties in constructingia fire-resisting record .container which will protect .its contents .against damagelwhen lthe container issubjected to anre, has beento provide .a locking means which will not provide a pathway for the Aentry of .heatirito .the interior of the cabinet vthrough.theirnetalilock.parts.

Another .difficulty has lbeento provide -a locking mechanism Awhichldoes. not requirea .reductionin thethickness .of .the insulation in the wall of :thecabinet `.to provide .space for 'I its Ainstallation .and operation. A

Still anotherdiicultmand a.very. serious one, encountered in providing locking .means for multiple compartrnented, insulated containers hasbeen toprovide alocking nea'ns Vactuated.by .a single 1ock.which.does .noi-require anpening connecting one insulated,compartmentmithlanother.

The main object .in providing van insulating .partition .between .the vadjoining .compartments .of a multiplecompartmented, reresistingcon tainer is Vfito protectthe V contents `of .eachcom- ,partrnentV independently, .of any other .compartment.

',Should failure voffany compartmentoccurand excessively high temperatures or actual combustion 4occur in thiscompartmentas ahresultloi Lsaid failure,.it isiimportant..that.excessive temperature, gases er1-laines fronti-the failed compartment be prevented from entering and Vcon-- rtributing to thefailure of the adjoining coinpartme'nts.l F

Heretofore, lockingvrnechanisms for `I nultiple conipartmented, insulated Hrecord i, containrs which are actuatedbya. single lock hayefequired .a chase Y,orV connecting openingbetween adjoining compartments. In ordery not to? ,take uniroom `which is neededfor -ling records', .itlhas beenthe practice to .provideacontinuous chasefiny the `irsulated walls of the compartments `tohouse4 arod vwhich ,isactuatee by a. single lock, with .thieme actuating locking means in the several compartments.

The. reduction in, Ythe thickness of the, insulation in the walls of the. compartments to, provide clearance for vthis lockrodcauses a weakening in. the walls'. atlthis point, -and'under sudden impact, or because rof expansion strains whenthe cabinet is exposed to sudden high temperatures,

ting-levers. in'lthe cabinet'.

cracking may result atthis weak point and excessive heat k"mayfenten HVilherethelock'rod passes through the partitionl separating adjoining compartments or where 'sthef'a'forementioiied 'continuous chase opens into adjoining compartments a means .is provided for theV ii'a'ssageof gases, etc., which in the event of iailur'eo'f'one compartment, may contribute to the..failre of the' others.

To eliminate these 'objections which are in- .he'rent inlthe" design of'presen't locking mechanisms for insulated record containers, I .have

"provided a new vlocking mechanism and method of installing the'samealong the joint or front opening of thecontainer; without encroaching on the main body of the insulation, as will appear lfrom .the vfollowing'.description of one embodi- .ing 'manufacture of, the' cabinet.

Figure 5i is a perspective',fragmentarydetail of the housings for the lock andlatchv mechanisms respectively, assembled with ,the temporary x- .ture'pa'rts used for locating them in the container shell.

Figure 6. isa .detail perspective view of av latch member, together with a temporary fixture to assist in mounting". it in thelatch housing.

Figure 7.is"'an' enlarged' vertical section taken ,along thelockingtube 'and transversely oi" .the

lock' and latch housingsgto .illustrate the method of 'inserting' the"lock"`tube and its latch operat- Figui''S'isV af'vie'w similar to Figure 7 after the locktube has beeii'fiilly inserted in place, and connected to thelockin'g mechanism in the 'lock housing.' "."Figure- 9 is a detail perspective of the lock.

"'Fighr'ej 10 is ade'taii section takenfthreugh the dravve jam'hanu che er the mennen-Sings, and

showing the latch in normal extended position.

Figure 12 is a detail section taken through the drawer jamb and the locking housing, and showing the lock in extended, or unlocked position in the latter.

Figure 13 is a section similar to Figure 12, showing the lock pushed into locking position.

Figure 14 is a section similar to Figure 13, showing a modified form of locking mechanism comprising a concealed device for unlocking the other compartments from a master drawer compartment when the drawer in the latter is opened.

Figure 15 is a section showing another arrangement for a concealed unlocking device operating on the same principle as that shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail perspective View of a pusher plate forming partof the latch operating mechanism.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I6 indicates a nre-resisting cabinet or safe, having insulated top, bottom, side and rear walls II, I2, I3 and i6, and an intermediate horizontal partition I forming two compartments I6 and I1 each with framed openings at the front of the cabinet. In the form of cabinet illustrated, the two compartments contain sliding drawers 2| and 22, having similar insulated front heads 23. It will be understood that the drawer structure is merely shown for purposes of illustration of my improved locking mechanism which can be applied as well to other closure members such as hinged doors, or a combination of drawers and doors, if desired.

The cabinet walls are formed as usual by a metal casing or shell 9 lled with a suitable insulating liner, molded in the casing, as in usual with cabinets of this kind.

The framed compartment openings I6 and I1 each have the usual stepped side jarnbs, for receiving similar shaped stepped margins of the drawer heads 23. In the form shown, the framed openings also have outwardly extending flanges 253 interiitting with inwardly extending flanges 24a on the drawer heads.

The locking mechanism includes as its principal elements, a lock 25 and latch devices 26, 21 for the drawers 2i and 22 respectively. The lock is operatively connected with the two latch devices by a locking rod 28, As will be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, all of these locking parts are located along one side of the compartment opening jambs, and forwardly of the rear faces of the drawer heads 23, so that they are outside of the main body portion of the insulation liner of the adjacent side wall I3.

rihe lock 25 includes a lock housing 3 open at its iront end and having an integral cylindrical spring chamber 3| projecting from its rear end. The lock is installed in this housing as will hereafter be described.

The latch devices 26 and 21 are similar, each including a generally L-shaped hollow housing 35 having one leg widened laterally toward its end, with an inclined oiset portion 36, and the other leg 31 being generally rectangular in cross seotion, and open at its end, and constituting latch receiving guideways as shown in Figures 5, and 11. The latch mechanism is installed in this housing as will presently appear.

The lock and latch housings 3U and 35 are held in correct position and alignment in the metal casing 9 while the insulation is poured in the latter, by temporary fixture means, as follow:

A lock housing locating pin 40 (Figure 4) has a tongue 4I which fits in the open end of the lock housing 30. Said tongue is projected through the lock hole 39 provided in the front edge of the cabinet frame, a distance limited by the enlarged portion of said locating pin. The tongue il and the housing 30 have registering holes 32, i3 and 4d which are brought into exact alignment by passing a pouring rod 45 therethrough as shown in Figure 5.

The open ends of the latch housing legs 31 are inserted in holes 46, 46 in the metal frame members at the sides of the drawer openings, and are held in position while the pouring rod 45 is inserted through holes, at opposite ends of the elongated legs 36 of said housings. The pouring rod also closes off the open ends of said housings. The bottom end of said pouring rod is passed through a threaded aperture 49 in the casing 9 at the bottom of the cabinet, said bottom end being provided with a threaded portion 50 engaging in the said aperture by turning the rod handle 5 I, so that a few turns locks the entire temporary fixture above described in position for the pour-` ing operation.

Forms may then be inserted in the front frame openings of the cabinet and the insulation is poured through a hole in the bottom of the cabinet casing in the usual manner.

After the insulation is set, the pouring rod 45 is turned to unscrew the threads 50, and the rod may then be withdrawn. The lock housing locating pin d0 is also withdrawn so that the insulated cabinet walls are then complete, with latch housings and lock housing connected by a cylindrical bore ready for installation of the locking mechanism, as will now be described.

For installing the locking mechanism, the cabinet is preferably placed on its back with the end openings up. Each latch member 55 for the two compartments is then assembled with its spring 56 compressed in its hollow body by means of a hook 51 inserted through a hole 58 in the beveled end of said latch member, said spring being held under compression temporarily by an end piece 59 pivoted on the opposite end of said hook, as shown in Figure 6. The latch members are then inserted in legs 31 of the latch housings so that a side opening 60 in the rear end of latch member 55 .aligns with the legs 36 of said housings, and with the springs still compressed toward the beveled ends of said latch members.

rl"he locking rod 23 is then installed by inserting it endwise from the bottom of the cabinet along the cylindrical bore left by the pouring rod. Said locking rod consists of a hollow tube, having two latch operating levers 6I and 62 pivotally mounted therein on cross pins 63, and arranged so that their free ends are initially folded inwardly along and within the limits of said tube, but may be swung outwardly through a slotted side opening 64 extending along said tube.

When the locking rod or tube 28 is rst inserted in the bore, the slot 64 is turned upwardly as shown in Figure 7, but when the tube is moved within a short distance of its nal position, it is rotated so that the latch levers 6I and 62 are in position to fall by gravity into the legs 36, 36 of the latch housings, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. When the locking tube is further advanced to its final position, as shown in Figure 8, the ends of the latch levers 5I and 62 move into operative position in the side openings 60 of the latch members 55 and in the rear of the springs 56, which are still held under compression by the hooks 51. The hooks 51 are then removed, so the latch members assume their` Y -normal operative position, with the springs 56 engaging the endsof the latch levers -6'I yand62. Afscrewiplug l65 is then tu-rned'int'o the threaded "hole 49 at the bottom of `tlfiecabinet `to form 4a bearing support vfor lthe bottom end `of the I-lock rod or tube 28.

The --lock is then installed'in the lock --housing y-30 the -following manner: 1A lock spring -`68 Vis rst finserted in the cylindrical chamber 3l at the `rear of `the housing. -A --lock tube operating -l'ever -69 is next inserted through :the lock'opening 'fand fixedon the Aend of the lock tube, said tube 'operating lever 'having an aperture -fltting A-'over said tube, with a tongue i which interdocks -in the slot 64 of vsaid tube, to `hold the lever from rotation relative to the latter. 'lz-shaped lpusher plate H has one leg Vl2 en- ?gaging the innerend lof the lock member 25,

and has -a stud i3 projecting inwardly to form Y a'seat `for the end 'of the `lock'spring. 4(See v*Figures '8 and 12.) The second leg 14 `of the pusher :plate 'H extends along one side Vof the l'lock member 25 7and has an angularly arranged cain slot i5 formed therein, for engagement 'with theouteturned'end 150i vthe lock tube yop- -ferating -l'ever '69.

To assemble the Vlock member and :pusher pla-te, 'the pusher `'plate is rst 'pushed inwardly lagainst the lock spring'BS to la-Iposition about half -way between Tits ffron't and rear positions. This 'brings the end I6 of lock operating lever '69 in lacentralpositionfrelative to the lock housing. The parts fmay be held momentarily in this .position by any 'suitableclamp vvor hook, engaged with ione of the latches, to -hold the tube -28 in the f sainefhalf-way position. The Vflock member 25 has a slot 'irforinedc'entrally"fits inre'nd, through'whch'thefend 13 of'tlfie lever '69 `ca`n 'be passed, into the out-'out area '19 fat tliesid'e of the lock. The `clamp or hook may Ithen be disengaged from its latch and theientire lockin'gmechanism is then ready for operation.

The arrangement is such that by sliding-the lkie'mber `Z5 andpusher plate H Vbodily in- Wardly 'or outwardly, the lock tube r428 will be freaked cn its axis. Thus 'when'tne locklmenn Berl-5 is"inf`eitnded position'shown in Figure 412, 'the latches. 6l yand v$2 Will be VAwtlidrati/n from "looliiigposition, fas seenin Figure '10,'and when the lock fm'ember 525 is Vpushed inwardly, as 'in #Figure `13,"tl'ie latches 6l and 62 'will be forced forwardly into "locking position, as seen lin fFigf mechanism for controlling the locking bolt B5 is contained within the locking member andina'y be "oi" any well-knowntumbler type `including a Vftuniblerfba'r'rel 82, lso that "details 'thereof need Triotfbe"furtherdescribed herein.

To lockallcompartments it is only necessary "ft'o push Y-theflocking 'member 25 vto the 'rearof "thef'lookihousn'g 3U. When inthis p'ostio'mthe bolt '8U of the Vlock'springs `into the recess 8f! so that the Acabinet is `locked luntil unlocked by "mearis-of afkey.

Thus, 'the 'rearward movement of Y'the lo'ck "25 -ating through the "lock vspring plisherv 1| `#and -th'e'lock rod operating lever 68,-causes'the'lock =r0d `28 `with its :latch loperating'lle'vers `BI and f:62 to rdtate'l'suflietlytO'fnVe the latches "olit- 85 provided in the side wall of the drawer head.

Cil

Should any of -the drawers be open at `the time the 4cabinet is locked, the action lof closing the drawer 'will cause the zlatch `for that compartment to be forced inward against the compressionspr-ing 56 contained within the -latch and, :upon Athe drawer `.reaching its closed position, the latch will spring outward again into vthe recess f85 in the side wall =of the drawer head, thus locking the drawer.

It will be evident that the lock construction just described does v`not 'provide a pathway vfor the `conduction cf heat to the interior of the cabinet, and that the mechanism .requires no space .torbe taken away from the interior of the 'cabinet to provide .-forits installation.

in 'other'w'ords 'the latch mechanism is wholly contained within the narrowed outer stepped jat'nbs -at the sides of theclosure openings, and is vdispose'dfin oneco'rner fof the cabinet outside of the inner surfaces of the insulated drawer `heads 23, and the interior dimensions of the cabinet, as defined :by the inner surfaces .of the finsulatedside walls 'and said `inner .surfaces of 'said Adrawer heads.

The beveled outer ends 'of the sliding latch members 55 nt snugly in the respective :recesses in the adjacent vsides of their respective drawer heads, so that `when the drawers are closed and latched the latch'housings are sealed off from the drawer vcompartments.`

Thus this constructionipe'rmits va uniform wall thickness to be maintained around every compartment, fand there 'is no opening `from none compartment of the cabinet to any other com- 'pa'rtment.

It will b'e understood the locking mechanism "above described ffma'y 'be employed with vvarious auxiliary 'or combination flocking .'arrangements, whereit is desired Vto provide additional independent locks for one or more compartments, 'but retaining inter-communicating loch mechf-anisms fbetw'een certain, or all of the compartments. AFor instance, itis 'often desired to pro- "vide one-fof1thedrawers withaJ combination lock which locks said drawer independently of the regu-larllockin'gvmechanisrn With-such an arrangementen of the drawersexcepting the lone having Y1an independent Ylock are unlocked by the plunger lock 25, and fthe drawer having the indepen'dentlock is unlocked by both locks.

Another permissible variationof the auxiliary flocking arrangement describedin the preceeding paragraph consists in omitting 4the latch for the drawer Ahaving the combination or auxiliary lock. In this 'case the latter drawer can l-be 'unlocked and opened lwhile the remaining drawers are s'till locked bythe regular meehanism. Still another Variation employingl auxiliary looking device is shown in Figure 14. The modied'formfo'f latch means shown inthis finire is especially designed 'for -use vwith -th'e 'drawer v2i disposed Vadjacent the look housingtil, but having 'an auxiliary lock (not shown) independent of the regular locking mechanism. In 4this case, the regularlatches and lockingfmechanism controlling" the locking ofthe Vother drawers can be actuated for unlocking thel latter by means of a pin 85a, which can be inserted throughan extended portion 86 communicating with the locking re- `cess8l ofthe lock housing 30 only when the ad- *jacent drawer 2l isunlocked and in'openposition. By'inse'rtingthe pin 85ainto the locking recess, thespringpressed-locking:bltlfil is dezp'ress'e'diand canbefrelea'sd from-recessl to unlock the other drawers. The pin 85a can be connected to the inside of the drawer by a chain 81, if desired. With this form of concealed unlocking device, it will be further understood that the key hole and tumbler barrel 83 of the sliding lock member can be omitted, if desired, and the regular locking mechanism can be locked when desired merely by pushing the lock member 25 inwardly to engage bolt 86 in its locking recess 8 I.

Figure l5 shows another variation of the concealed unlocking mechanism shown in Figure 14. In Figure 15, a sliding block 88 is permanently mounted in the hollow extension 86 of the lock housing, and has a push rod or pin 89 connected thereto and extending through the aperture 88a in the extension 86, with its outer end in position to be engaged by the finger when it is desired to unlock the bolt from the interior of the adjacent drawer opening. With this form, the adjacent side of the drawer head has a slotted recess 98 to provide clearance for the pin 88 when the drawer is in closed position.

To facilitate assembly of the unlocking block 88 and pin 8S in the extension 86 of the lock housing, said block has a bore 88a formed in its outer face. The inner end of the pin 89 can be passed through the aperture 85a and inserted in the block 88 with a press fit.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell and a molded insulating filler, said casing having a plurality of compartments, a plurality of closure members therefor, each having an insulating filler, individual latch devices for each of said closure members, each latch device including a latch housing embedded within the insulating ller of said walls and opening into said compartments forwardly of the rear surfaces of the insulating filler of said closure members when the latter members are in closed position, and control means common to said latch devices asn cessible from the exterior of said casing for actuating said latch devices. f

2. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell and a molded insulating ller, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments insulated from each other and having adjacent framed openings, individual closure members for said openings each having an insulating iiller, individual latch devices for a plurality of said closure members, each latch device including a movable latch member projecting into a compartment, and control means common to said latch devices, said devices and control means excepting said projecting latch members being within said metal shell and embedded within the insulating filler and disposed along said framed openings, wholly forwardly of the rear surfaces of the insulating iillers of said closure members when said closure members are in closed position, and means accessible from the exterior of the casing for actun ating said control means.

3. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a rectangular casing with outer walls including slabs of molded insulating'material, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other by molded insulating material,

said compartments having individual framed openings with independent insulated closure members therefor, individual latch means including movable latch members positioned for engaging the sides of said closure members when in closed position, latch control means common to said latch means, said latch means and common control means therefor being embedded within the insulating material in an outer corner portion of said cabinet beyond the interior surfaces of said compartment walls with said movable latch members projecting into said compartments whereby said compartments are wholly sealed from each other when said closure members are in closed position, and means accessible from the exterior of said casing for actuating said control means.

4. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a rectangular casing with outer walls formed of a metal shell and continuous slabs of molded insulating material, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other by molded insulating material, said compartments having individual framed openings with independent insulated closure members therefor, individual latch means including movable latch members positioned for engaging the sides of said closure members when in closed position, latch control means common to said latch means, said latch means and common control means therefor being embedded within the insulating material in an outer corner portion of said cabinet beyond the interior surfaces of said compartment walls, whereby said compartments are Wholly sealed from each other when said closure members are in closed position, and means accessible from the exterior of said casing for actuating said control means.

5. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell with a molded insulating ller, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other, and having adjacent framed openings, individual insulated closure members therefor fitting in said framed openings,

latch housings embedded within said insulating filler adjacent each of said framedopenings, said latch housings including latch receiving guideways opening into said compartments, said insulating ller also having an enclosed passageway connecting said latch housings, said housings and passageway being in communication with said compartments only by way of said latch guide- Ways, latches for said closure members movably mounted in the latch guideways of said latch housings, control means extending through said passageway operatively connected with each of said latches, and means accessible from the exterior of said casing for actuating said contro means.

6. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell with an insulating filler, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other, adjacent frame openings, with stepped inner faces forming relatively narrow outer jamb portions, individual insulated closure members therefor fitting in said framed openings, latch housings embedded within said insulating filler adjacent each of said framed openings, said latch housings including latch receiving guideways opening into said compartments, said insulating ller also having an enclosed passageway connecting said latch housings, said housings being wholly disposed outside of the interior surfaces of said compartment walls and said passageway being disposed along the narrowed jamb portions of said framed openings outwardly of said housings, latches for said closure members movably mounted in the latch guideways oi said latch housings, control means extending through said passageway operatively connected with each of said latches, and means accessible from the exterior of said casing for actuating said control means.

In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed oi a metal shell with a molded insulating iiller, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other, and having adjacent framed openings, individual insulated closure members fitting in said openings, latch housings embedded within aid insulating ller adjacent each of said framed openings, said latch housings including latch receiving guideways opening into said compartments, said insulating ller also having an enclosed passageway connecting said latch housings, said housings and passageway being wholly disposed outside of the interior surfaces of said compartment walls and sealed from the compartments except for said open latch guideways, latches for said closure members mov ably mounted in the guideways of said latch housings, control means extending through said passageway operatively connected with each of said I latches, and means for actuating said control means accessible from the exterior of said casing.

8. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a'hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell with a molded insulating i-lller, said casing having a yplurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other and having adjacent framed openings, individual insulated closure members tting in said openings, latch housings embedded within said insulating filler adjacent certain of said framed openings, said latch housings including latch receiving guideways opening into the compartments associated with said certain framed openings, latches for said closure members movably mounted in the guideways of said latch housings, control means extending through said passageway operatively connected with each of said latches, locking means disposed adjacent another of said compartments for actuating said control means accessible irom the exterior of said casing, and means accessible from the interior of said other compartment for un locking said locking means when the closure member of said other compartment is open.

9. In a heat-resisting cabinet, a hollow casing having outer walls formed of a metal shell with a molded insulating iiller, said casing having a plurality of separate compartments therein insulated from each other, and having adjacent framed openings, individual insulated closure members tting in said openings, latch housings embedded within said insulating iiller adjacent the jambs of certain of said framed openings, said latch housings including' latch receiving guideways opening into the compartments associated with said certain framed openings, said insulation iller having an enclosed passageway connecting said latch housings, said housings and passageway being wholly disposed outside of the interior surfaces of said compartment walls and sealed from the compartments except for said open latch guideways, latches for said closure members movably mounted in the latch guideways of said latch housings, control means extending through said passageway operatively connected with each of said latches, locking means in the jamb of another of said compartments for actuating said control means accessible from the exterior of said casing, and means accessible through the jamb of said other compartment for unlocking said locking means when the closure member o said other compartment is open.

JOHN H. PAGE.

REFERENCES errno The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,033,793 Geraty July 30, 1912 1,109,081 Null Sept. 1, 1914 1,473,117 Meilink Nov. 6, 1923 2,270,551 Peiter Jan. 20, 1942 

